Is Your Schnoz Being A Schmuck? Make It Behave Itself With Essential Oils For A Stuffy Nose!

by Olivia Leave a Comment

Despite playing an important role in the respiratory process, the nose rarely gets the credit it deserves. A true, unsung hero, it slogs all through the day and even when you are slumbering. In terms of work, it handles everything from aromas to stenches, from oxygen to carbon dioxide and from boogers to bacteria.

Yet, we take a vain view when thinking about the organ and only rant about its looks. I’d go so far to say that with the humble schnozzle, it is a classic case of – You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone! But you are forced to pay attention to your nose once it shuts shop.

Why you wonder when we have a larger orifice to breathe through?

Well, even though your snout cannot hold a candle to your trap in terms of size, the truth is that your mouth was never designed for breathing. Simply put, it was always just the spare.

I mean those nostrils seem puny in comparison to your mouth but they are tiny filters and humidifiers, which means breathing through the nose is really the best thing to do. But, what happens when your schnozzle is held hostage by a plug of snot?

Well, you just need to give it some TLC and the “T” in that stands for both tough love and tender love and if you don’t know how to combine tough with tender that is what good ol’ Olivia is here for.

Hi there folks, I am happy to have you onboard for another adventure through the world of essential oils.

I am your captain and today we are going to navigate our way through all those vexing nose troubles. You wanted it, and you shall have it – Olivia’s Ultimate Guide to Using Essential Oils to Treat a Stuffy Nose.

But before I show you how to release your nose from the clutches of the snot monster, let us talk about how and why your schnoz lands itself in trouble.

Why Do I Have A Stuffy Nose? It’s Not Like I Shove Dirt And Debris Up Those Nostrils!

For most people, it is hard to understand how an organ that exclusively handles air can get all clogged up. Blame it on the snot!

Remember the part about your nose playing the role of a humidifier, from where do you think that humidity comes? Yessiree, it comes courtesy of the slimy, yucky stuff that we derisively dismiss as snot.

Together with your sinuses, your nose produces between 0.5-1 liter of snot each day. What becomes of all that mucus?

It is first channeled to the nasal cavity and from there the tiny hair inside your nostrils push it towards the passage that connects your nose to your throat. From the throat, the snot makes its way into your tummy.

I know guys that is one hell of a yucky mental image, but here is the deal – You need the snot to keep your respiratory organs, including your nose and throat in top shape. So, we just have to shut up and continue swallowing the mucus as we have been doing since the very day we were born.

Normally, this whole system is perfectly tuned. So, the supply and demand are in near equilibrium. The problem starts when a spanner comes flying in the works, like an allergen or a microorganism (bacteria, fungus or virus).

In both cases, your immune system immediately gets involved and releases histamines. Call this the clean-out chemical of your body because it will make your organs do whatever is required to push the intruders out.

In case of the nose, this involves the itchy feel that leads to incessant bouts of sneezing and hyper production of mucus. All that sneezing irritates the lining of your nostrils, which causes inflammation.

Then your body brings in the heavy artillery in the form of white blood cells. Your body’s defenders launch a serious attack on the outsiders. Sometimes this kills the enemy and sometimes it does not, but it always causes collateral damage in the form of more inflammation.

In the midst of the mayhem, the mucus lining continues to produce snot like there is no tomorrow. But with the channels that control the flow of the snot all blocked, the fluid has nowhere to go.

It thickens and clogs up the nasal cavity and that is how you end up with a nose that is more stuffed than any Thanksgiving turkey ever.

In itself, a stuffy nose is not a condition but a symptom. Usually, the underlying health issue is the inflammation or the swelling of the mucosal lining and a simultaneous increase in mucus secretion.

Medically, the condition is known as rhinitis and it is the leading cause of a stuffy nose. However, nasal congestion can also be attributed to other conditions, more on that coming up in a bit.

You and all those around you will know you have a stuffy nose!

It is not every day that your attempt to inhale sounds like you are trying to start a rickety car that just does not yield to your ministrations or that you go about sniffling like a toddler or that your red nose is ready to put ol’ Rudolph out of business.

Really, a stuffy nose is as unmistakable as a clogged drain. So, we don’t really have to discuss what a stuffy nose feels like because most of us have firsthand experience with this problem.

However, what does deserve attention are the other symptoms that typically come along with the stuffy nose.

These point to the cause of the problem. So, they help you in devising a treatment strategy. The symptoms you experience along with nasal congestion will also offer an indication of just how serious the problem is and if there is a risk of complications.

Usually, you will experience one or more of these symptoms with a stuffy nose:

Runny nose
Sneezing
Headache
Itchiness in the nose and throat
Itchy eyes
Red and watery eyes
Difficulty breathing
Sinus pain
Cough
Fever
Breathing trouble
Sudden and loud snoring
Pain behind the eyes, cheeks and forehead
Sore throat
Fatigue
Feeling of malaise
Thick and green/yellow mucus discharge

Now, let me tell you what these symptoms convey. If blowing your nose covers the tissue with yellow/green and viscous snot, you are dealing with an infection.

But, it could be either bacterial, viral, or in some cases, fungal. If you have an itchy nose and eyes, swelling around the eyes, itching in the throat or ear and watery eyes, the chances are that your problems are attributed to an allergy.

If you have tenderness in the cheeks, the forehead, behind the eyes, your body is probably battling sinusitis. If you have significant phlegm discharge (also viscous and yellow/green) and frequent bouts of coughing, the infection has spread to the lungs.

Fortunately, all of these conditions are treatable and yes, they can easily be managed by using essential oils. But since prevention is always better than cure, we need to know a bit more about the causes of a stuffy nose.

So, What Causes Your Nose To Reach The Unyielding, Obstinate And Stuffed Up Stage?

Infections: Whether the attack is launched by bacteria, fungus or virus, it will put your immune system into hyper drive and cause a stuffy nose along with a headache, and possibly fever. The common cold and the flu are both viral infections that cause all of these symptoms.

However, when you have the flu, you will run a high fever and experience intense fatigue and body pain along with the other symptoms. On the other hand, bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract will lead to coughing and discharge of phlegm along with a runny nose, congestion, headache and more.

Sinusitis: This refers to the inflammation of the mucus lining of the sinus cavities. Again, an infection or an allergy is usually to be blamed for the inflammation. As the lining swells, it blocks the flow of mucus out of the sinuses, which leads to pain, heightened inflammation and eventual infection.

Allergies: While pollen is usually the culprit in allergy attacks, your immune system may react just as violently to the presence of dust mites, flour, wood dust, certain plants, pet hair and dander and other allergens.

Regardless of the irritant, your immune response to it will cause the all too familiar and notorious allergy symptoms such as a stuffy nose, sneezing, nasal and optical itching and others.

Physical blocks: Nasal polyps are abnormal, fleshy growths in the nasal cavity that can hinder the drainage of mucus from the sinuses to the nose and from the nasal cavity into the throat, thus leading to nasal congestion.

Any kind of nasal injury or structural difference leads to a similar effect. For instance, a deviated septum as well as broken nose can cause frequent sinus and nasal congestion.

Medication: Some drugs are known to cause what is called rhinitis medicamentosa, or in simpler words, an inflammation of the mucus lining attributed to a drug reaction.

Beta blockers, certain painkillers and even some decongestants (nasal sprays when used for more than 3 days) are known to cause rhinitis and consequently nasal congestion.

Swollen adenoid glands: Usually these glands shrink by the time you hit adolescence, but if they don’t, their position in the back of the nasal cavity turn them into prime troublemakers. Frequent bouts of nasal congestion and a runny nose are hallmark signs of swollen adenoids.

Medical conditions: Thyroid disorders and an ailment called the Chrug-Strauss syndrome, which involves the inflammation of blood vessels, are also known to cause a stuffy nose.

Hormonal changes: Stress and pregnancy can also be the cause of nasal congestion in some people, as they are responsible for significant hormonal changes in the body.

When Should You See A Doctor About Your Nasal Congestion?

While a stuffy nose and all the annoying symptoms that accompany it are simply immune responses to thwart invaders, you will need to see a doctor if:

The symptoms last for more than a week.
They do not respond to the use of OTC medication and/or natural treatment.
The frequency and intensity of the symptoms increases.
You develop high grade fever.
The nasal and lung congestion make it hard to breathe.
You have blood tinged nasal discharge.
Your phlegm is blood-tinged.

If an infant or a child younger than 2 years has even a slight fever along with nasal congestion, you need to consult your pediatrician at once. Ditto for babies who have nasal congestion and/or a runny nose that is making it hard to nurse them, or is causing breathing difficulties.

How Do Doctors Treat The Infamous Stuffy Nose?

The treatment for a stuffy nose will depend on the underlying cause. Typically, it will include one or more of the following:

Meds to make those blood vessels behave themselves: More blood to the nasal cavity equates to greater mucus discharge. So, doctors often use alpha-adrenergic agonists as the first line of treatment to control excess mucus secretion.

These drugs constrict the blood vessels, essentially reducing the amount of blood available to the mucus lining. Phenylephrine and ozymetazoline are among the more popular drugs in this category.

Both are known to cause side effects like high blood pressure, heart rhythm/rate abnormalities, dizziness, anxiety, gastric upset, sleep problems, and skin rash among others.

OTC painkillers: Despite the fact that influenza (flu) and the common cold are both self-limiting ailments (viral infections that resolve on their own), doctors often prescribe asprin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen to ease the discomfort. The side effects of these OTC formulations are well known.

Meds for allergies: If the nasal congestion is caused by an allergy, decongestants and antihistamines are also used in the treatment plan. Both first and second generation antihistamines have several side effects, including drowsiness, stomach upsets, headache, and others.

Topical decongestants: Those that are sold in the form of OTC nasal sprays cannot be used for more than 3 days because they lead to rebound congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa, as explained above). Oral decongestants can be taken for longer, but speak to your doctor before using them for more than 7 days.

Antibiotics: These are only prescribed if the physician is sure that the infection is caused by a bacteria. Antifungal and antiviral meds can be used for other types of infection, depending on the severity of the symptoms. For a bacterial infection that causes nasal congestion, amoxicillin is the drug of choice and it is only prescribed for acute sinusitis.

Surgeries: No, you won’t have to see the insides of an operating room just because you have an unruly nose. Surgical procedures are only considered if the nasal congestion results from a structural abnormality and that too when all other treatment options have proved futile.

RECOMMENDED NATURAL PRODUCT FOR STUFFY NOSE

Do you want to get relief from a blocked nose from cold, flu, hayfever, etc. You will discover the benefits of using L’orpur Natural Nasal and Sinus Spray to ease nasal congestion and help your blocked nose.

Why Should You Use Essential Oils To Deal With A Stuffy Nose?

These potent plant extracts offer several benefits at once. For instance, the oils can address nasal congestion and the other symptoms, while battling inflammation and the underlying health condition that caused it.

Similarly, the anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of essential oils help to curb the swelling of the mucosa, while their cooling and warming action battles itchiness and irritation.

Above all, some volatile oils are known to have antihistaminic properties. Plus, there are others that boast of immune-regulatory effects. In other words, with essential oils, you can stop your immune system from overreacting without compromising its ability to defend the body.

Moreover, essential oils are the most effective and powerful antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal agents available in nature. They not only strengthen your body’s natural defense system but also offer help from the outside in defeating the intruders.

And I still haven’t got to the best part yet! Many essential oils also have impressive expectorant properties, which means they actually melt the snot clog in the nose and the sinuses. I believe that about covers all the symptoms and the causes of a stuffy nose. I can guarantee that you won’t find anything in modern medicine that offers all of that without side effects.

Best 8 Essential Oils For A Stuffy Nose

1. Ravintsara

Distilled from the leaves of the tree that is also used to get camphor crystals, this oil has exceptional mucolytic and expectorant properties that enable it to deal even with stubborn nasal blockages.

2. Peppermint

When it comes to a stuffy nose, the icy coolness of peppermint oil helps to reduce blood flow, which lowers mucus production. Less snot means less debris to clog your nasal passage. Furthermore, the extract has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent and treat infections.

3. Eucalyptus

This warming oil offers all the benefits of peppermint but uses heat to control the inflammation.

4. Rosemary

Along with its mild heating action, rosemary oil brings forth extraordinary abilities to fight infections. Be it is a virus, bacteria or fungus, the strain won’t be able to survive once you put this oil to use.

5. Basil

Long used in the treatment of all types of pulmonary and respiratory disorders, basil can deal with infections, inflammation and the nasal congestion they cause.

6. Niaouli

Distilled from a tree that is related to the famed Melaleuca (tea tree), this oil has the same anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as its famous cousin but it is gentler on the skin. Furthermore, it also boasts of mucolytic and expectorant powers that melt away mucus plugs in the nose and in the throat.

7. Bay laurel

Another warming oil that offers expectorant properties, this extract too has a longstanding history of use against nasal congestion, cough and cold.

8. Caraway seed

This is one of the few essential oils that have antihistaminic properties, which means you can use it to fight off allergies. The extract has been tested in a clinical setting against allergens and the cascading immune response they trigger.

Apart from these, we will also use lavender and geranium essential oils for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties along with clove, oregano and ginger essential oils for their soothing warmth and their ability to bust through thick mucus blockages.

The 7 Best Essential Oil Recipes For A Stuffy Nose!

1. The jar of relief!

1-2 cups of Himalayan pink salt (depending on jar size)
1 wide mouth mason jar
10 drops each of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils
5 drops each of basil and lavender essential oils
1 tbsp carrier oil of your choice

Method:

Measure out the salt in a large glass bowl. You will need enough to fill ½ or 2/3^rd of the jar, depending on its size. Your aim should be to leave just enough room on top for you to be able to put your nose inside the jar without it touching the surface of the salt.

Blend the oils in a smaller bowl and add them to the salt a few drops at a time. Mix the salt and the essential oils with a wooden spoon. The idea is to thoroughly coat the salt crystals with the oils.

Transfer the treated salt into a mason jar. Put the jar lid back on and store the container away from direct heat and sunlight. There are two ways to use this “jar of relief”.

Simply stick your nose into the jar and take a deep breath. If the aroma is too strong for you, hold the jar a few inches away from your nose. In time and with repeated use, the aroma will get lighter.
Combine heat, salt and essential oils by placing the jar in a bowl that contains hot water. You don’t need boiling hot neater for this, but the temperature should be high enough to heat the salt. After about 3-4 minutes in the water-bath, take the jar out. Use as instructed above but keep your nose away from the brim of the jar as it may be hot.

In both methods, salt ions and aromatic molecules enter the nasal cavity and offer their healing and anti-inflammatory effects to the mucus lining, the sinuses and your upper respiratory tracts.

Salt rooms and essential oils are extremely effective and popular treatment options for respiratory problems. With your little mason jar, you get to harness the healing potential of both, wherever and whenever you need it.

2. Super powerful steam blend to unclog stubborn nasal congestion

1 tsp. mustard oil (carrier oil; do NOT use mustard essential oil)
1 tbsp. salt (sea salt or Himalayan pink salt)
2 drops each of basil, turmeric and oregano essential oils
1 drop each of eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils

Method:

You can buy mustard carrier/seed oil online or in specialty food stores. If you cannot find it, use a tsp. of milled mustard seeds.

Mix the essential oils with the mustard oil if using it or if you are using milled mustard seeds, mix the essential oils with a carrier oil of your choice. Set the lipid mixture aside and boil about 2-3 cups of water. Pour the boiling water into a medium sized bowl and add salt to it. Stir till the crystals dissolve and then quickly add the oil blend to the solution. If you are using milled mustard seeds, add them after the salt and then pour in the essential oil blend.

Bend your head over the bowl, keeping a distance of about 10-12 inches between the surface of the water and your face. Cover your head and the bowl with a thick towel to make a tent of sorts that will stop the steam from escaping. Breathe deeply and remember to keep your eyes closed.

The aroma may seem too strong at first. If you feel you cannot stand it for anymore, take a break by sticking your head out of the tent for a few seconds, but then go right back inside and continue the steam inhalation. For best results, continue the treatment for 10-15 minutes and do this twice a day.

3. Steam blend for an itchy, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes

1 tsp carrier oil of your choice
1 tbsp salt (sea salt or Himalayan pink salt)
3 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops each of melissa and caraway seed essential oils
1 drop rosemary essential oil

Method:

Instructions as above, except for the mustard oil/seeds. Use this blend before your nose starts clogging up. In fact, go for a 10-15 minute session of steam inhalation as soon as you experience nasal discharge, itching and sneezing.

The essential oils of both melissa (lemon balm) and caraway seeds are known to have antihistaminic properties. So, they will bring the levels of histamine under control while the essential oils of peppermint and rosemary, along with the salt, will offer quick relief from inflammation and irritation.

Usually two rounds is all it takes to get noticeable results. If you already have a stuffy nose and know that allergy is to be blamed for it, alternate this blend with the one above, going for one session of each per day.

4. A massage blend to give your nose some TLC

30 ml carrier oil of your choice (sesame seed oil typically works the best)
2 drops ginger essential oil
3 drops each of niaouli and ravintsara essential oils
5 drops peppermint
7 drops lavender

Method:

Mix the essential oils with the carrier oil. You can blend the lipids in a small bowl and then transfer the mixture into a glass bottle or simply pour the essential oils into the bottle first and then top them with the carrier. Roll the bottle in between your palms or give it a gentle shake to ensure that the oils get mixed together.

You will need a dark colored glass bottle for storage. To use, take one or two drops in your hand and apply with your finger tips to the bridge of the nose at the root (point in between the eyebrows) and work your way down the sides of the nose till you reach the nostrils.

Massage gently with downward strokes to encourage the flow of mucus out of the nose. About 2-3 minutes of this massage, 2-3 times a day, will offer noticeable benefits. For best results, use steam inhalation to melt the mucus plug and then go for the massage to move the snot out of the nasal cavity.

5. Hot compress recipe for a stuffy nose

1 tbsp any carrier oil
3 drops thyme
5 drops each of wild orange, bay laurel and ravintsara essential oils
10 drops peppermint or menthol essential oils

Method:

You will need hot water (enough to fill a medium sized glass bowl with it) and a face wash cloth. Prepare the blend in advance and store in a dark glass bottle. Because you will only require about 3-4 drops each time, you can easily use it for 4-5 sessions.

The water should be hot enough for you to feel the soothing warmth on your skin but not so hot as to cause skin burns. Once you get the temperature right, add the oil blend to the hot water and stir briskly to disperse the lipids. You will still see tiny droplets floating on top but that is alright.

Soak the cloth in the hot water, wring it out and keep it on your face such that it covers all the sore areas and the nostrils. If for some reason, you are not comfortable placing the cloth on your face, use it to gently to pat the sides and the bridge of your nose, inhaling deeply as you do so. Continue to repeat the process till the water cools. Use this hot compress blend 2-3 times/day to get relief within 12-24 hours.

6. Bath blend for when cold/flu hits along with nasal congestion

1 tsp milk (plant or dairy)
2 drops clove oil
4 drops each rosemary and oregano essential oils
7 drops each geranium and lavender essential oils
2 cups Epsom salt
1 cup sea salt or Himalayan pink salt

Method:

In a small bowl, mix together the essential oils and the milk. Run a hot bath as you would normally and when you have the bathtub half full, add the salts to the water. Next, pour the essential oil blend right below the flow of water to ensure quick dispersion. When you have enough water for a soak, enjoy the soothing and healing goodness of the bath for 20-30 minutes.

If you have pain in the neck, throat, cheeks, forehead or a headache, dip a face wash cloth in the bath water, wring it and place it on the sore areas. While you are soaking in the bath, don’t forget to inhale the steam as a deeply as you can. The combination of the salts and the essential oils will release the mucus clog and help with the inflammation of the tissue.

7. Inhaler to control infections that lead to nasal congestion

3 drops cinnamon and ginger essential oils
5 drops each of rosemary and thyme essential oils
7 drops each of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils
7 drops carrier oil of your choice

Method:

Mix the oils in a small glass bowl, using a glass stirrer or a toothpick. Soak the wick of the inhaler in the oils till it is completely saturated and then place it back in the body of the inhaler. Close the lid and use as you would any regular inhaler. Use this recipe when your snot goes all green/yellow and thick, which is a clear sign of infection.

Home Treatment For A Stuffy Nose

1. Wash away the mucus and the germs

Saline irrigation, with a netipot or a nose rinse bottle, helps to remove trapped mucus, allergens and germs from the nasal cavity. Plus, the combination of salt and warm water helps to bring the inflammation under control.

A solution made by dissolving a pinch of salt in a cup of warm water works well for nasal cleansing. But if you want exceptional results, replace the water with a healing hydrosol like that of lemon/chamomile/helichrysum. Two treatments a day will prove to be the most effective.

2. Eat right to feel right

You can have inflammation in any part of your body. It doesn’t matter what caused it; one thing is guaranteed, eat sugar and you will make it worse. What you eat greatly impacts your body’s ability to both defend and heal itself. So, if you are living on a steady diet of refined carbs, sugar and trans fats, you are certainly not doing your nose any favors.

If you want to get rid of nasal congestion, get serious about eating healthy. Give up colas in favor of homemade, diluted juices and snack on fresh fruits and veggies. Make sure your diet includes seafood, lean meats and whole grains to keep your body well-nourished, because that is what your nose needs to go back to being its old, unclogged self.

3. The right supplements can help

The anti-inflammatory powers of vitamin C are well known so amp up your dosage and couple it with zinc lozenges for best results. If you frequently suffer from infections or problems of the respiratory tract, you may want to look up an Ayurvedic formulation known as Chyawanprash. It combines several adaptogenic and tonic herbs that are known to boost and regulate the body’s immune system. Moreover, the spices in the recipe make the product effective against all types of respiratory disorders.

4. Sleep the sickness away

I know spending the whole day in bed, just because we are feeling a bit under the weather, is not a luxury that most of us can afford. So, go for the next best thing, and that’s 7-8 hours of shuteye at night. The more you rest, the more time you give your body to sort out its issues.

5. Beat the cold with the hot stuff

They are absolute opposites, which means that when you want to chase out one, all you have to do is use the other. In this case, “hot” refers to both temperature-hot and taste-hot. So, tomato and chicken soup spiked with tabasco, horse radish or even a dash of cayenne pepper will show that cold and your nose that you are in no mood for nonsense. Ditto for infusion teas that contain ginger, sage, mint, cinnamon and clove.

On A Parting Note…

The biggest problem of being down with a stuffy nose is that your sufferings are often dismissed with the flick of a hand and the words, “Oh, it’s just a cold”. The casual attitude makes you angry because as hard as you try to convince yourself that it’s no big deal, you simply can’t ignore a schnozzle that isn’t doing its job. The reality is that a stuffy nose embarrasses you, distracts you and makes you feel just awful.

But not anymore!

Now, you have essential oils to deal with your runny and stuffy nose and all the other symptoms that go with them. These little soldiers from Mother Nature’s cavalry will plough right through the snot block and offer relief on the double. So, expect to get back to your life not in a matter of days but hours. And on that note, here is wishing your nose a life time of clog-free days!

Pregnancy Made Pleasant With Essential Oils!

by Olivia 2 Comments

What do you do when you direly need to feel utter confusion and a pounding headache? Simple, you search the term “essential oils and pregnancy”.

I tell you, never has such vast amounts of garbage been spewed on a single topic by people who have neither the credentials nor the experience nor the authority to so much as write a single sentence on alternative medicine or aromatherapy.

It seems like anybody who knows two finger–typing has taken it upon himself/herself to enlighten the world on the use of essential oils during pregnancy. Most of the rants are a rehashing of stuff that has already been written a million times.

No, it’s not the repetition but the additions that are the jarring aspect of these posts. Oils are added and removed from the safe and dangerous list at whim. In fact, I like to call it the deluge of misinformation one that has created mass hysteria surrounding the use of Eos during pregnancy.

But, why should the blame for the mayhem be pinned only on the naysayers when the pro-essential oil lobby is just as bad, with their dangerous advice on the oral and undiluted use of essential oils?

Unfortunately, the hoopla has drowned out the voices of sanity, reason and experience. Such is the fear mongering created by the dubious claims that a lot of pregnant women are now too scared to use essential oils. And that is the true tragedy of this situation because…

When you are pregnant, you need all the help that you can get!

The thing about pregnancy is that it’s a crazy, roller coaster ride. Surely, you are expecting this. I mean the process starts with you peeing on a stick and ends with you screaming your head out in an attempt to push out a head with a circumference of over 14 inches from an orifice that is designed to accommodate an appendage with a girth of 4 inches.

And there is so much fun to be had between the peeing and the pushing! You will feel every emotion known to mankind and may even discover a few hybrids. Happiness and depression, anger and calmness, nervousness and confidence, they will all come to you and often in quick succession.

Your body will sail through the rapids along with your mind. Your face will glow, but your feet will be competing with your belly in the “who is the biggest of us all” contest. You will have crazy cravings, but you will puke out every last morsel. Fatigue will weigh you down, but sleep will elude you. Simply put, you will be the rope that gets pulled on both ends in a biological game of tug of war.

No wonder by the 9^th month, most women are desperate to just pop that baby out. To add to the fun, no two pregnancies are alike, so you can never predict what awaits you. And the worst bit is that as you go through the tumultuous ride, you won’t get any help from the meds that you have come to trust.

I am talking about pills that grace the medicine cabinet of most homes and are swallowed without a second thought. Painkillers, antihistamines, antibiotics and antifungals will all be off the table along with scores of other drug classes.

You can even forget about your nasal congestion drops and the retin-A cream that you have come to rely on.

So, what do you do when the pain in your back is unbearable?
How do you deal with an allergy or an infection?
What about the nausea and the puking?
How do you handle the depression?

Simple, you either grin and bear it or you turn to alternative treatment modalities like aromatherapy.

But, they say essential oils should not be used when pregnant!

Three words are often thrown around to describe the alleged dangers of essential oils: emmenagogue, abortifacient and teratogenic, and I must admit they all sound “oh-so” scientific and impressive too. Psst, I actually believe they are used less to describe and more to create the impression of credibility when it’s lacking in reality. But enough said on that front!

Now, let me get to the stuff that matters and tell you what these words mean and how and if they apply to the use of essential oils.

1. Emmenagogue

A substance that promotes and regulates menstrual discharge. The essential oils clubbed in this category usually include angelica, chamomile, ginger, cinnamon, clary sage, jasmine, myrrh, peppermint, juniper, frankincense, rose, sweet marjoram, rosemary and sweet fennel. Yes, almost all of your favorite oils and above all those that get used most often are in this list on one or the other website.

2. Abortifacient

A compound that induces or can induce abortion. The oils that are alleged to have this side effect include mugwort, pennyroyal, parsley seed, sage, rue, savin, thuja, wormwood, tansy and sassafras, hyssop.

3. Teratogenic

An agent that can cause developmental disturbances in the fetus, leading to congenital abnormalities. The oils that are believed to cause this effect are Plectranthus fruticosus (forest spurflower), wintergreen, birch, sweet fennel, oregano, oak moss.

Depending on the source of the information, you will find more oils added to these categories. Some are used frequently by DIY blender and even in commercial preparation while others are rare to find and seldom used.

What I am going to do now is dissect the disturbing claims made about these oils and essential oils in general. Everything that you read from hereon, all the arguments that I have put forth, are based on:

The works and the writings of authors such as Robert Tisserand, Julia lawless, Tony Balacs, Ann Berwick, Shirley Price, Sue Clarke, Jennifer.P. Rhind and others.

The guidelines and recommendations of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists and the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

Scientific studies conducted to understand and investigate the effects of essential oils.

My own experience with blending and using these extracts.

Let us start by talking about the emmenagogic and abortifacient effects of essential oils. I am not disputing that many essential oils are effective emmenagogues that encourage menstrual flow and as such lend a helping hand in conception.

The logical conclusion is that since these oils encourage menstrual flow, they must cause uterine contractions. Yes, some herbs and essential oils do cause strong uterine contractions and I will talk about these in a bit.

But, I assure you that light weights such as peppermint, rose, ginger, neroli and lavender essential oils do no such thing. And, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove me wrong here.

At best, these extracts encourage the onset of a slow period, the kind in which you have all the symptoms of PMS but little or no bleeding. This result is possibly attributed to the hormone balancing, stress reducing and diuretic effects of these oils.

However, neither these herbs nor the essential oils distilled from them can cause intense uterine contraction that can lead to a miscarriage. That being said, I will admit there are certain emmenagogic and oxytocic herbs and essential oils that have long been used as natural abortives.

But when used as such, the herbs have to be ingested, typically in significant quantities. For instance, you’d have to take 10 drops of the tincture of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) every two hours to get serious emmenagogic effects from it. Similarly, you would need to ingest 20 drops of the tincture of black cohosh root to feel its oxytocic effects.

Now, it can be argued that since essential oils are stronger than the herbs they are distilled from, hence inhalation and topical application can cause as much damage as ingesting the herb. I agree with this argument and I am all for caution.

However, given the toxic effect of some of these oils, they are rarely recommended and used in a general setting. In fact, most of these oils are not sold by manufacturers and retailers of therapeutic grade essential oils. Here is a list of such herbs and oils that are contraindicated in the NAHA guidelines as well as in the works of the authors listed above.

Penny royal (Manthe pulegium): The herb is one of the most potent inducer of uterine contractions and also extremely poisonous. The essential oil is hepatotoxic but abortifacient only when ingested in very large quantities.
Rue (Ruta graveolens): The herb decreases the blood supply to the endometrial lining but the essential oil has no direct impact on the uterine muscle.
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare): The herb can cause uterine shrinkage resulting in miscarriage but does not impact uterine muscles.
Mug wort (Artemisia vulgaris): The herb and the essential oil are both emmenagogic.
Angelica root (Angelica archangelica): Has oxytocic and emmenagogic effects
Wild carrot seed (Daucus carota): Impacts the uterine lining.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Parsley apiole, which is a major component of the oil is an emmenagogic agent.
Indian dill: Emmenagogic effect due to the presence of apiole.
Plectranthus: Abortifacient due to the presence of sabinyl acetate, which inhibits implantation.
Spanish sage oil (Salvia lavandulifolia): Abortifacient due to the presence of sabinyl acetate, which inhibits implantation.
Savin (Juniperus sabina): Abortifacient due to the presence of sabinyl acetate, which inhibits implantation.
Sage (Salvia officinalis): Abortifacient due to the presence of sabinyl acetate, which inhibits implantation.

Herbs and oils that are contraindicated due to possible toxicity include:

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora): Neurotoxic.
Thuja (Thuja accidentalis): Neurotoxic due to thujone content.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Possible neurotoxin due to thujone content.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): Possible neurotoxin due to thujone content.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum): Narcotic and psychotropic effect due to the presence of safrole.
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum): Narcotic and psychotropic effect due to the presence of safrole, but only when ingested in large quantities.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): Intoxicative effect.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis): Possible toxicity due to thujone, pinocamphone and isopino-camphone content.
Blue artemesia (Artemesia aborescens): Neurotoxic.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria fragmentissima wall): Possible toxicity due to methyl salicylate overdose.
Birch (Betula lenta): Possible toxicity due to methyl salicylate overdose.
Anise Star (Illicium verum): Carcinogenic due to estragole content and narcotic due to safrole content. Also potential for skin sensitivity if oxidized.
Cedar (Chaemocyparis thyoides): Possible toxicity due to thujone pinocamphone and isopino-camphone content.

Should we just assume that a mere whiff of these oils is enough to endanger your pregnancy?

I won’t give you a straight explanation for this. Instead, I am just going to list the studies that have led to the inclusion of these oils in this list. Bear with me here folks because these studies and the way in which the essential oils were used in them will truly put things in perspective.

Let me start with the first bit of startling information – nearly 95% of the studies that I am going to list here involved rodent subjects and in the remaining 5%, the studies were carried out on human uterine cells. So, there cannot possibly be a direct correlation. Yet, what is worth noting is the mode of administration of the essential oils and their quantity.

Here it goes:

The abortifacient effect of savin, sage and spanish sage essential oils is attributed to sabinyl acetate, a compound that inhibits implantation. However, the oils and the compound itself only exhibited this effect when injected subcutaneously in quantities of 135 mg/kg of body weight.
Eucalyptus essential oil was not found to be toxic even when mice were injected with unnaturally high quantities of 135 mg/kg throughout 1/3^rd of the gestational period.
Camphor oil, which is generally considered toxic, caused infant fatality in just one case in which 57 ml of camphorated oil was ingested by the mother-to-be.
Parsley oil is generally contraindicated during pregnancy. But, abortion can only be induced by ingesting about 6 ml of parsley seed oil.
Indian dill oil, which is another extract that contains apiole, was only found to be abortifacient when consumed in doses of 5 ml or more.
Pennyroyal is often considered to be the strongest abortifacient and emmenagogic substance in nature. Yet, the oil distilled from this plant failed to induce miscarriage even when it was ingested in doses greater than 7 ml.

Do you see a common trend emerging here?

These oils, even those that are generally deemed toxic, lead to fatalities only when ingested and that too in high quantities. There is nothing; I mean not even a word, written about commonly used essential oils like rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense and lemon inducing miscarriage when used for inhalation or topically.

And, I know for a fact that nobody in their right mind would ask you to do shots with lavender, eucalyptus or any other essential oil, whether you are pregnant or not.

In fact, when it comes to essential oils, the cardinal rule is to go slow, very slow, on usage, regardless of how they are administered.

Why only ingestion or topical application, even when diffused, your exposure should not exceed 15 to 30 minutes. You are not supposed to keep the diffuser up and running all through the night, whether you are pregnant or not.

With that settled, let’s talk about essential oils that are contraindicated due to their possible teratogenic effects. These include:

Dalmatian sage or common sage (Salvia officinalis): Negative influence of embryonic distribution in rodents
Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Inhibits differentiation of cells in rat embryos.
Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): Alters embryo distribution.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare): Increased rate of embryonic cell death.
Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia): Alters embryonic distribution and cell death rate.
Birch (Betula lenta): Contains methyl salicylate.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima): Contain methyl salicylate.

Once again, notice that all tests were carried out on rodent subjects and the oils were administered in large doses of 150 mg/kg/day to 375 mg/kg/day. The oils were fed to the animals, which I believe, explains the toxicity.

As far as sweet fennel oil is concerned, this is the only one that showed the potential to embryonic cells even in small quantities. But, even in this case, the oil was directly poured/administered on the cells.

So, here comes another common sense question – who said that it’s safe to ingest essential oils in such large quantities?

It isn’t safe to use essential oils in those quantities in any form or way. I have said this before, and I will say it again. These oils are the very essence of the botanicals they are derived from. Of course, this is potent stuff and not something that should or can be used recklessly.

That said, as you can see a lot of the “so-called” ill effects only come into the picture when essential oils are used in unnaturally large quantities and administered directly into the body, either via ingestion or injection. Now, this is something that is never going to happen in real life, unless somebody is suicidal or incredibly stupid.

However, I am all for playing it safe. So, let’s stay away from all the oils listed above. But, that would still leave us with plenty of other options. If there is no study to prove that the other essential oils are unsafe in any sense, why are they being implicated?

Blame the fear mongering on outlandish assumptions and wild speculations!

Camphor, thujone, pulegone and pinocamphone all belong to class of compounds known as ketone. And, just because 4 substances in this class, which consists of several dozen others, exhibit abortifacient and toxic effects, the whole class is shunned.

The problem is that ketones can be found in many commonly used essential oils and this is what has led to safe essential oils being labelled as contraindicated. Caraway, turmeric, rosemary, eucalyptus and davana are just a few such oils that have earned a bad rep just for their ketone content although the ketones in these oils are perfectly safe.

Another problem is the assumption that just because the plant as a whole has emmenagogic or abortifacient effect, the essential oil too must lead to such effects. I have told you before that essential oils make up just 1-2% of the total plant volume. This means that these extracts cannot possibly contain all the phytochemicals found in the herb.

Classic examples of this faulty assumption are the essential oils of tansy, savin, pennyroyal and juniper. Without a doubt, these plants are all abortifacients, but the oils distilled from them exhibited no direct action on the uterine muscle. So in reality, the herb and the oil can have totally different and sometimes even opposite effects?

You see where this is coming from? I believe, the author of Clinical Aromatherapy, Dr. Jane Buckle said it best when she asserted, “It is extremely unlikely that a nightly bath containing a few drops of essential oils will cause any problems for the unborn child…. there are no records of abnormal fetuses or aborted fetuses due to the ‘normal’ use of essential oils, either by inhalation or topical application.”

But then, what about the cautionary advice to not use essential oils in the first trimester?

This is another bit of unsubstantiated advice that instills fear about essential oils. Tragically, it can be found in numerous online and offline publications.

The only basis they have for this random statutory warning is the fact that nearly 15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies end by the 20^th week and 80% of these miscarriages happen in the first trimester. Essential oils have nothing to do with these figures, and just because this is undoubtedly a fragile period in the pregnancy is no reason to refrain from their use.

Having said that, if an oil is contraindicated, I don’t see why and how this is likely to change after the first trimester or through the duration of the pregnancy. The opposite is also true.

If an essential oil is considered safe for use during the second and third trimester, there is no reason to assume that it will lead to ill-effects if used during the first trimester.

A vital point to understand here is that if an essential oil is toxic, it is toxic per se and for all; case in point, elecampane (Inula helenium) and mustard ((Brassica nigra); these oils cannot and should not be used by anybody. So, essential oils can be used throughout the pregnancy as long as a few common sense safety tips are followed, which you would be expected to do otherwise as well, pregnant or not.

A few things to keep in mind if you want to use essential oils when pregnant

As your body gets ready to take on one of the most complex and fulfilling tasks it will ever handle, your senses often go into overdrive. So, limit your dermal exposure to oils to no more than 1-2%.

Don’t use the same oil in multiple blends as this may lead to sensitivity and over dosage.

For diffusion, limit your use of essential oils to 3-5 drops/100 ml of water and restrict your active exposure sessions to 15-20 minutes to avoid nausea and headaches.

For a bath mix, use no more than 3-4 drops, mixed with a teaspoon of milk for dilution. Warm water works better than hot water and limit your soak time to 15 minutes.

You can also use essential oils for cold and hot compresses. Once again, keep maximum usage in the range of 4-5 drops added to a foot soak tub full of water or 2-3 drops added to a large salad bowl filled with water. In both cases, remember to dilute the essential oils in a teaspoon of light carrier oil before adding the blend/single to the water.

Oils that are known to cause dermal sensitivity should be used sparingly and only after a patch test. These include essential oils of black pepper, clove bud, lemon grass, ylang ylang, tea tree and melissa.

Do not use essential oils internally in any way, when pregnant or breast feeding. Be mindful of the amount of clove essential oil you are ingesting if you are using it for tooth ache and/or dental hygiene.

The Best Essential Oils To Use When Pregnant

For their warmth: Ginger, black pepper
To handle queasiness and nausea: Cardamom, lemon, lime
For calmness and their soothing: Lavender, chamomile, helichrysum
To deal with sleepless night: Sandalwood, vetiver
For energy and freshness: Grapefruit, bergamot, orange, neroli and mandarin
To handle skin problems: Geranium, palmarosa, frankincense, tea tree and rosewood
For pain and soreness: Peppermint, rose

Apart from these, we will also use the essential oils of patchouli, petitgrain, turmeric and cypress.

As for the carrier oils, a combination of jojoba and rosehip seed has just the right viscosity for all skin types and all areas of the body. If you want more moisturization/lubrication, opt for a mixture of virgin olive oil and sweet almond/sesame seed oil.

Top Essential Oil Recipes To Use When Pregnant

1. The morning sickness blend

5 drops ginger
3 drops lemon
2 drops cardamom

Method:

Mix the oils and store in a dark glass bottle. Personally, I favor using this blend in an inhaler, because this way, you can carry it along and it’s available whenever you need it. Of course, you can always keep it in a roll on bottle and put some on a handkerchief when you feel a wave of nausea coming on.

If using in an inhaler, double the quantity of the oils. Mix in a small glass bowl and soak the absorbent wick of the inhaler in the oils, before inserting it back into the holder/body of the inhaler. All it takes is a few whiffs of this zesty aroma to stop the stomach churning.

2. The emotional support blends

For anxiety and stress

5 drops lavender
3 drops neroli

For depression, fear and nervousness

5 drops sweet orange
7 drops palmarosa

Method:

Preparation and storage as above. To use, diffuse 3-4 drops for 15-20 minutes. Both these blends also work exceptionally well when used in a reed diffuser. With prenatal stress on the rise and its detrimental effects on fetal neurodevelopment proven, I’d suggest you carry these blends along to deal with bouts of nervousness and fear that hit out of nowhere.

3. Sleep come to me blend

5 drops sandalwood
2 drops ylang ylang

Method:

Mix the oils together and store in an amber glass bottle. Diffuse for 15 minutes before you call it a night. Do not leave the diffuser on all through the night and don’t use more than 2-3 drops of the blend. The aroma of this blend is both soothing and calming and the combination of floral and woody notes works exceptionally well.

Yet, when you diffuse aromatic extracts, a lot of pregnant women find the fragrance too strong. If you’d like the aroma to be light and take effect gradually, put a drop of the blend on a piece of cotton wool and place it next to your pillow instead of diffusing it. But, if you are struggling with insomnia, I’d still recommend that you go with the diffuser.

4. Energizer blend

5 drops grapefruit
4 drops mandarin
3 drops tumeric (optional)

Method:

Blend the oils and store in a dark glass bottle. Use turmeric only if you are also suffering from intermittent bouts of brain fog and need mental focus and clarity to get through the day. If you’ve added turmeric essential oil to the blend, diffusion will work best. Alternatively, you can add one drop to a cup of hot water and place it on your desk or on a side table. Be careful not to drink it!

If turmeric essential oil has not been used, put 3-4 drops of the citrus blend in a spritzer bottle and top it with warm water. Spray lightly around the room and the house. If fatigue has turned into a constant companion, wear this blend using an essential oil pendant.

5. No more swollen feet blend

3 drops black pepper
4 drops peppermint
7 drops roman chamomile
40 ml carrier oil of your choice

Method:

Blend the oils and store in a dark glass bottle. If you can get your partner to give you a soothing foot massage with this blend, all the better, because you will need to use upward strokes to regulate circulation and lymphatic drainage. Alternatively, you can use ½ tsp of the blend in a warm foot bath.

6. Back soother blend

2 drops rose otto (don’t use absolute)
5 drops roman chamomile
30 ml olive/sweet almond oil

Method:

Preparation and storage as given above. Use as you would any lotion/massage oil, working in circular strokes to gently soothe and relax the muscles in the lower back area.

7. Bath blend

5 drops each of petitgrain and tangerine/lime essential oils
1 tsp milk/ dairy/plant
1 cup Epsom salts

Method:

Mix the oils and store the blend in an amber glass bottle. To use, add 3-4 drops of the blend to a teaspoon of milk and set the mixture aside. Run yourself a warm bath and once the tub is halfway full, add Epsom salts to the water. Wait till the tub is almost full to add the milk- essential oil blend.

Disperse the oils in the water by agitating it. Enjoy the unique combination of the relaxing and energizing effects of the oils. Don’t spend more than 15 minutes in the bath and be careful when stepping out of the tub.

8. No episiotomy blend

1 cup olive oil/ sweet almond oil
1 drop each of lavender and geranium essential oils

Method:

Mix and store the oils as instructed above. Apply on the perineum every day, massaging the area gently in circular strokes. Use twice a day for best results. You can start using this blend towards the end of the second trimester or even in the third.

9. Stretch marks don’t come my way blend

3 drops rosewood
4 drops geranium
2 drops sweet orange
30 ml blend of rosehip and sesame seed oil

Method:

Mixing and storage as above. Use twice a day on the belly and the upper thighs. Start using in the first trimester.

10. Skincare through pregnancy blend

3 drops each of frankincense and geranium
2 drops of tea tree
40 ml jojoba oil

Method:

Preparation and storage as for the other recipes. The same thing that gives you the much talked about pregnancy glow may also cause acne to make a sudden appearance. Yes, I am talking about excess sebum.

Fortunately, you can keep the skin oils in check by using this blend and while you are doing that the aromatic extracts will also work their magic on any dark spots that may be getting ready to reveal themselves. Apply as you would any skin cream or oil, once or twice a day. But limit usage to just 2-3 drops at a time.

In conclusion…

There you have it ladies – everything that you need to know about using essential oils to pamper yourself as you get ready to bring a new life into the world. The healing and soothing touch of these aromatic extracts will help you to deal with the small naggings that you are bound to encounter along the way.

Above all, these oils offer help in an area that is oft ignored and where all else fails. Yes, I am talking about the emotional storm that you will have to inevitably weather as you wait to hold your bundle of joy in your arms.

Everybody agrees that a happy mommy is a healthy mommy, and happy and healthy mommies have happy and healthy babies (mostly). However, the surge of hormones and the physical impact of carrying a child can be quite taxing on the body and the mind. Unfortunately, you will have no help coming your way from modern medicine.

But, since Mother Nature is a woman too, she has you covered on this front. So, use her gifts for a safe and happy pregnancy. And on that note, here is wishing all mommies-to-be healthy and happy days as you go through the magical journey that is motherhood!

Essential Oils For Tic Disorder (Tourettes): Tic-Toc Tic-Toc BOOM

by Olivia 2 Comments

So a while back I came across a funny video online. It was one of those videos that YouTube recommends (I don’t know how the tube knows what stuff I’d be interested in. But most of the time, it’s spot on. Techies understand this phenomenon better than I do).

The video was about a teenage boy with Tourette’s syndrome having a conversation with a police officer. He was yelling some obscene words and seemed not to be in control.

At some point, he screamed ‘I am a prostitute’ to the police officer. It was shocking though hilarious (the hilarious bit was totally the fault of the guy filming – he had a droll, comical laugh the whole time).

Anyway, sometime later, the video came to mind and I wondered why the young man behaved the way he did. You see, most people (those not under the influence of any drug) tend have an innate respect for the law. I mean, c’mon, there are things that just can’t be said in the presence of a law enforcer, let alone straight to them. But this young man; woooh, boy seemed to be on a roll.

As always, I did some light research on Tourette’s syndrome and as it turns out, that the teenager couldn’t help it.

His obscene outbursts happen literally everywhere he goes. You can imagine how embarrassing it is knowing you’ve got a loaded gun that could go off anyplace, anytime. And being a teen, I can only imagine how misunderstood he is.

Sure, most of us would think that people with Tourette’s get away with cursing and shouting obscenities all the time. But trust me, it is no fun. It’s obvious that the person’s social life is significantly affected.

In this piece, I will explain the underlying condition behind Tourette’s syndrome (tic disorder), and how one can manage it. Hopefully understanding it will allow you to provide more comprehensive care to your loved ones as well as know which trigger to avoid.

What Is A Tic?

A tic is described as an unvoluntary movement or sound that is activated by the brain. Given their unvoluntary nature, individuals do not have control over these movements and sounds at all.

There are two types of tics – vocal tics and motor tics.

Usually, these short-lived movements (uttered sounds or motor tics) occur suddenly during what we term as ‘normal behavior’. The tics are usually repetitive and have a successive occurrence of the same unvoluntary action.

For instance, an individual with a tic may blink his/her eyes several times or even twitch his/her nose over and over. In the case of the teenage boy I brought to your attention above, the action repeated was the utterance of ‘dirty words’.

Motor tics can be broken down further to include complex and simple motor spasms. The simple motor tics include eye blinking, head jerking, nose twitching and shoulder shrugging.

Complex motor tics, on the other hand, consist of several sudden movements performed in a similar order repeatedly. For instance, an individual may kick out with one leg and then follow through with the other leg or reach out and touch something over and over.

As I started describing what a tic is, you might have noticed I used the word ‘unvoluntary’. This was intentional. Tics are more of unvoluntary movements than involuntary movements.

Unvoluntary, in this case, means that an individual can suppress the urge to perform the repeated action for a while. However, the suppression only results in a buildup of the urge and discomfort. The buildup continues until it is relieved by performing the action.

At this point, it is important to note that tics affect people of all ages. However, they are prevalent in kids. Experts maintain that 25% of kids experience tics. Additionally, boys are more prone to develop tics than girls.

Now, let me complicate things for a moment…

Are tics the same as twitches? Well, not quite (even though some people use these terms interchangeably).

Here is the difference – muscle twitches are isolated rather than repeated actions. The muscle twitches are also known as myoclonic jerks. Unlike tics, twitches are completely involuntary. As such, they cannot be suppressed or controlled.

One of the most common types of muscle twitches is benign essential blepharospasm. This is the twitch type that causes your eyelids to ‘flatter’ uncontrollably. Usually, this twitching occurs repeatedly for a limited time. In some extreme cases (very rare), the condition can also affect the neck, mouth, and eyebrows.

While the eyelid twitch is similar to an eye blinking tic, it varies in the sense that it is uncontrollable. This kind of twitching, for the most part, affects adults. A family doctor can differentiate between an eyelid tic and an eyelid twitch.

Health experts believe that eyelid twitching develops as a result of a misfiring of certain cells in the brain. Blepharospasm is made worse by dry eyes, caffeine, sleep deprivation and harsh lighting conditions. We shall look at the symptoms and risks of tics later on in the article.

Common Tic Disorders

Okay, I’ve got some good and bad news.

First the good news – most tic disorders are not severe. As such, they only have a minimal effect on an individual’s quality of life.

And now, the bad news – in some cases, the tic disorders tend to be extremely troubling and disruptive. In such situations, they can affect one’s social, work and school life. In this case, leading a normal, carefree life is no longer an option.

Health experts use 4 elements to diagnose and classify tic disorders. These elements (characteristics) include:

The duration of the tic
The severity of the tic
The age when the tic first manifested
Whether the tic disorder is vocal, motor or both

a) Transient Tic Disorder

This particular disorder usually manifests in the younger generation (teens under the age of 18 years). It affects somewhere between 5-20% of school-going kids. Transient tics are characterized by one or more tics for a month but not more than 12 months.

The majority of tics experienced in this situation are motor tics though once in a while, vocal tics can manifest. Most children who have transient tic disorder experience multiple episodes of the tics which vary in the way in which they manifest.

b) Chronic Vocal or Motor Tic Disorder

Transient tics appear in a year. However, chronic tics can last for more than a year. The chronic vocal/motor disorder is characterized by one or more extended tics. The tics may either be vocal or motor but never both.

To be diagnosed with the chronic tic disorder, the symptoms have to appear before a kid hits the age of 18.

c) Tourette’s syndrome

At times, what may appear to be a chronic tic may actually be a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome. This is the most severe type of tic disorder and is often characterized by both vocal and motor tics.

Given that not many people in the world have been diagnosed with this disorder (though it is starting to be more known), there isn’t an exact figure of how many people live with this syndrome. However, a CDC study estimates that 135,000 kids between the ages of 6-17 who live with the syndrome in the US alone.

The strange thing about Tourette’s syndrome is that its severity changes with time. At times, one will experience periods of lowered tic frequency which will be followed by periods of vigorous tic activity. Fortunately, individuals living with Tourette’s realize that their condition improves as they grow older – and gain more control.

Symptoms of Tic Disorders

The number one symptom of tic disorders is the presence of one or several tics. Earlier on, we classified tics as motor and vocal tics. We also further divided the two into simple and complex tics. But aside from tics, there are other symptoms that accompany the disorders. These symptoms include:

Worsening of emotions like fatigue, anger, excitement, and anxiety
Worsening during illnesses
Worsening during extreme temperatures
Occur while one is sleeping
Vary with time
Vary in severity and type
Improve with time

Causes and Risk Factors of Tic Disorders

Health experts do not have the exact cause of tic disorders figured out yet. However, studies reveal several culprits including gene mutations. Brain chemistry appears to be very important in all this (especially brain chemicals including dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate).

For the tic disorders that do have a direct cause, they can be fitted into a category after diagnosis. Such tics include stroke, infections, head injuries, poisons and numerous other injuries.

Additionally, tics are also associated with other medical disorders including Creutzfeldt Jakob disease and Huntington’s disease (again with the human-named diseases)

Some of the risk factors include:

Genetics – tics tend to run in families. As such, there is a possibility of the presence of a genetic basis
Sex – men are more likely to develop tic disorders compared to women

Complications

The complications associated with these disorders especially in kids include:

Other complications related to tic disorders are usually a result of the effects of the disorder on one’s self-image and self-esteem. Some research conducted has concluded that kids with TS or chronic tic disorder, experience a lower quality of life and have lower self-esteem in comparison to those living without the said disorders.

Additionally, and there is no doubt about this, individuals with Tourette’s syndrome often have problems with social life courtesy of their tics and other complications that arise as a result of the tics including ADHD and anxiety. You could be making out with your girlfriend one minute, and calling her names the next followed by a couple kicks.

Treating TICS

The treatment of tic disorders depends on the type and the severity of the disorder. However, it’s important to note that most tic disorders will resolve on their own. But for the severe tics, the kinds that interfere with daily life, they can be treated with medications, therapies and even deep brain stimulation.

Therapies for Tic disorders

Some therapies have been devised to help individuals control the tics and reduce their occurrence. These therapies include:

Habit reversal therapy: this is a treatment that is designed to teach people living with tic disorders to use movements to compete with the tics in such a way that the tics do not occur
Exposure and response prevention: this is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy which helps individuals are accustomed to their uncomfortable urges that precede the tic with the sole purpose of preventing a tic

Medication

Certain medications can be used alongside the above-mentioned therapies or on their own. Most medications are made to reduce the frequency of tics. However, they do not completely rid individuals of the tic symptoms. Some of the medications available include:

Botox injections
Anti-seizure medications
Muscle relaxants
Medications that affect dopamine levels

Other medications that help with tic symptoms include antidepressants which help with OCD and anxiety.

Deep Brain Stimulation

This is an option for individuals living with Tourette’s syndrome and whose tics have proven unresponsive to other forms of treatment or negatively affect one’s quality of life.

Deep brain stimulation involves implanting a battery operated device in the brain. The device produces waves of electrical impulses which span certain parts of the brain that control movement and consequently reduces the frequency of tics.

Essential Oils For Tics

Though we tend to simplify the composition and action of essential oils (I plead guilty for the said crime), it is important to have it in the back of your mind that essential oils are incredibly complex.

It is the reason they are considered potent and are used to treat and manage a myriad of diseases and conditions. Very few compounds can boast of the medical curative feats that essential oils achieve ever so effortlessly.

Let’s take a look into the complexity of essential oils and just how they can help in managing tics.

Warning: Things might get a little technical (but you are Oliviarites! Nothing can get you down – not even a paragraph or two of technical medical jargon).

Essential oils have fragrances, some of which are sweet and others, well, not quite so sweet-smelling. Experts say that the fragrances exert powerful stimuli on the limbic system.

The limbic portion of the brain includes; the hypophysis, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. These parts of the brain interact directly with the hypothalamus and the thalamus glands. Together, these brain parts and glands form the seat of sexual arousal, emotions, memory and govern aggressive behavior.

Now, essential oils contain thousands of chemical compounds which work together to provide therapeutic effects to a certain extent. These chemical constituents achieve their therapeutic effects by stimulating neurotransmitters, activating the secretion of specific hormones including endorphins and improving alertness, mental capacity as well as concentration.

With that said, there is no doubt that essential oils can help manage vocal and motor tics. You just need to know which essential oils to use and how to blend them to achieve maximum results.

For today’s segment, literally any of your favorite essential oils can be used out of the hundreds readily available. Just the aromatherapeutic properties of most essential oils is enough to bring down the severity and frequency of tics.

So, shall we hop over to the recipe mixing table?

Recommended Product For Tic Disorder

The oils in blend below are known to help with ADHD, emotions, disruptive and impulsive behaviors, and will also relieve tension, promote sleep, restore feelings of hope and bring peace to your child. It is all-natural and can’t hurt, so by all means I recommend giving it a try!

You can also read more here.

Essential Oil Blends For Vocal And Motor Tics

Recipe 1: Tourette’s Syndrome Management Blend

Ingredients

Essential oils of:

Cedarwood
Vetiver
Frankincense
Lavender
Lemon
Carrier oil (either coconut oil or sweet almond oil)

Directions

As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to have your doctor diagnose your child with Tourette’s syndrome. Lots of questions will go through your mind as to what you could have done differently to keep him/her from developing the disorder.

However, while it can literally shake the ground beneath you, I’m here to give you some hope with this essential oil blend. If this is your first time and you are skeptical about it, you probably will find comfort in the fact that other parents in a situation such as yours have used it and in several weeks, the tics reduced.

Every essential oil in the blend plays an active role in giving your child his/her ‘life’ back. Cedarwood will soothe your child, frankincense will relieve stress and help your child focus better, vetiver will psychologically ground your child and lemon will ‘tame’ the nervous system. Add the carrier oil into a 30ml roller bottle and then add 8-10 drops of each of the above essential oils. Shake the blend to mix evenly before using it.

To use the blend roll two drops on your chest (on the left side), or on the soles of your feet. Apply the blend once on a daily basis. Ideally, nights are best but you can choose which timings work better for you. If you don’t see results in a few weeks that follow, ramp up the applications to about 2 or 3 times daily.

Recipe 2: Masters Blend for Tics

Ingredients

Vetiver – 10 drops
Ylang Ylang – 8 drops
Clary Sage – 9 drops
Lavender – 6 drops
Sweet Marjoram – 7 drops
Frankincense – 5 drops
Carrier oil (60ml)

Directions

Now I have to be honest, there are several essential oil blend brands that are expensive. These blends have the benefit of having numerous positive reviews. But courtesy of their high cost most people do not give essential oils a chance.

Fortunately for you, I have honed the skill of making potent essential oil recipes. The above recipe mimics multiple costly essential blends known to be great for individuals with Tourette’s syndrome.

Note that this blend is too potent to be used on kids. If you intend to use it on a child, use fewer drops or dilute it even more with your preferred carrier oil. To make the blend, simply mix all the ingredients in a small glass bottle / roller. Apply as per Recipe 1 above.

Recipe 3: Easy Lavender Neck Rub

What you need

Lavender – 3 drops
Fractionated coconut oil/almond oil – 1 teaspoon

Directions

In an earlier section, I’ve pointed out anxiety as one of the complications of tics. It is easy to understand why the involuntary tics could cause children, teens, or even adults anxious and keep them on edge. The society doesn’t make it easy for them either. Dealing with the anxiety will help an individual with either a voice or motor tic cope well in an unforgiving world.

Mix the two ingredients together in a small glass jar. Once it is ready, pour a few drops into your palm and rub it onto your neck or that of your child. You can also rub it on the soles of your feet. The best time to apply is before bed.

Recipe 4: Depression Blend for Tourette’s

Ingredients

Essential oils of:

Rose – 1 drop
Sandalwood – 3 drops
Orange – 2 drops

Directions

The thing about depression is that it can affect anyone. And unfortunately, it’s more common in our society that we would like to accept. Anyone suffering from tic disorder are often at the mercy of depression (as if life is not hard enough with a tic disorder alone). Luckily depression can be managed with several essential oil blends including this one.

You can use the blend in three ways: a diffuser, and inhaler or as a bath oil. I personally prefer the diffuser simply because I find the method less complicated.

For a diffuser blend, multiply the ingredient amounts by 4 to have a 20-drop recipe. Add the ingredients to a glass bottle (preferably dark colored) and mix thoroughly. Add several drops of the blend according to the directions on your diffuser.

Note: some thick oils including citrus oils are not compatible with some diffusers. For this reason, you have to read the diffuser instructions first.

Recipe 5: De-Stress Easy Blend for Tic Disorders

What you need

Cedarwood – 7 drops
Ylang Ylang – 5 drops
Lavender – 4 drops
Patchouli – 3 drops
Bergamot – 6 drops
Carrier oil

Directions

This is a perfect stress reliever. It can be used regularly to calm the nerves without affecting energy levels. It is perfect when one cannot seem to calm down. With all ingredients at hand, mixing up this recipe will not take long – 3 minutes maximum. The mix can be used as a massage rub to de-stress.

Recipe 6: Calm Your Little One Blend

Ingredients

Sweet almond oil – 2 teaspoons
Vetiver – 4 drops
Patchouli – 3 drops
Peppermint – 2 drops
Lavender – 5 drops

Directions

This power blend is technically designed to help manage ADHD in kids but given that ADHD is a complication that often accompanies tic disorder, it is the perfect blend to use.

Add the ingredients in a glass bottle, screw back its lid and mix the ingredients. You can choose to use it in a bath or apply it on the bottom of your feet through a relaxing floor massage or apply it to your wrist and temples.

The Bottom Line

Though there are numerous videos on individuals living with tic disorder labelled ‘funny’, we both know there is nothing remotely funny about it.

It is a condition that makes life difficult. As such, it is up to you and I to create awareness of the disorder and help deal with it.

Let us help foster the inclusion of people with tic disorder in day to day lives without making them feel weird or left out. As we champion this cause, the essential oils and blends I have compiled for you above will help make life easier. We can do this guys!

Essential Oils and Recipes For Hashimoto

by Olivia 9 Comments

Hey gang, great to see you back again and eager to learn all you can my fellow truth seekers. Today, I greet you in the language of one of the most advanced nations of the planet – Konnichiwa.

Quick poll guys; wouldn’t it be great to have something significant named after you? Like a far away star, an island, a new element, or even just a street! I’ve always wanted to discover a new element; even got a name and symbol all picked out – Olivarium I’d call it, symbol Ov.

But you know what’s never good? It’s having a disease or virus named after you. You’ve got the infamous Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Crohn’s diseases.

Then we move on to conditions like Hodkin’s lymphoma, Lou Gehrig’s, and Tourette syndrome. But you know what’s even worse; it’s being named after a condition that barely no one knows about.

But all intelligent banter aside, a condition doesn’t have to be famous to bring pain, discomfort or even death. So today, we’ll be finding out all there is to know about a one such ailment named after Hakaru Hashimoto, a Japanese physician of the Kyushu University medical school (1881 -1934).

We’ll find out what exactly Hashimoto’s disease is, why it’s named after the poor sap, how it presents itself in the human body as well as all the different treatments there are for it. Well, what are you waiting for, hop to it!

What Is Hashimoto’s Disease?

Also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s disease is a form of autoimmune disorder. It causes the thyroid gland to get gradually destroyed by your own immune system. Obviously, this substantially reduces the thyroids ability to function properly.

For our naturally inquisitive readers, (bah, pleasant way of saying less informed chaps) the thyroid gland is located near the front of your neck and is responsible for making hormones which control metabolism related functions. This includes functions like the heart rate as well as how quickly you use up calories from food.

Early on, there might not be any symptoms, but some people develop hypothyroidism with all its accompanying fatigue, malaise, weight gain, constipation and potential complications.

Overtime, the thyroid may enlarge and form a painless or slightly painful goiter. The main cause of Hashimoto is not quite known, but it’s thought to be combination of both environmental and genetic factors. More on the symptoms and causes later on. But first, we digress.

So, why exactly is it called Hashimoto’s disease? Did poor old Hakaru suffer from the condition most of his life? Or maybe he came from a long generation of prominent doctors and spent all his life doing unspeakable things to sick patients all in the name of science?

Yeah it’s the second one, sorry for leading you on – it’s all true except the unspeakable things, they were speakable, and very helpful to diagnosing the new disease. Hashimoto – a hero by all means.

So, where were we? Ah yes, currently, Hashimoto’s disease affects about 5 percent of the world’s population at one point. But it’s people aged 30 to 50 that are more at risk.

Fortunately, there are several different treatment options for managing Hashimoto and reducing the size of the goiter. In any event, surgery is rarely required.

So, how exactly do you know it’s Hashimoto and not something else?

Symptoms of Hashimoto

The problem with auto-immune conditions is that almost all of them come with similar symptoms. That’s why high chances are that your first trip to the doctor will be misdiagnosed, and your second one probably.

However, diseases linked to the thyroid and lymphatic systems have their own unique set of symptoms, and that’s where chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis falls.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with Hashimoto’s disease include malaise, fatigue, puffiness, joint and muscle pain, and the infamous weight gain.

Right when you think you’re just getting fat, here comes the second set of symptoms. It starts with the swelling and enlargement of the thyroid gland leading to a lump on the neck called a goiter.

Constipation will also be a major (not to mention painfully bumstaking) tell tale sign. And speaking of a difficult metabolism, your heart rate might get slower than usual leading to chills and feeling cold.

Women seem to be affected more with additional symptoms like thinning hair, irregular periods, heavy flows, panic attacks, and trouble achieving or maintaining a pregnancy to term.

As always, I’ll have the full list of symptoms laid out neatly below for our skimmers (I see you skimming through my beautifully written body… of work). In case you are, you could be missing a lot of helpful information up there, so start over!

Fatigued, Sluggish and Cold
Sleepy with slowed heart rate
Joint and muscle pain
Unexplained weight gain
Pale, dry skin
Hair loss and brittle nails
Tenderness and stiffness
Enlarged tongue with puffy face
Depression
Swelling of the legs and neck
Excessive menstrual flow
Inability to conceive

What Causes Hashimoto’s Disease?

By and large, the exact cause of young Hakaru’s disease is not really known. All we have are some pretty educated guesses on several factors believed to contribute. But instead of starting off with scientific speculation, let’s check out some fat facts first.

We know that Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease which causes your body to treat the thyroid gland like foreign tissue and attack it.

Again, the underlying cause of the autoimmune process remains largely unknown. However, it seems to be more common in women and displays a kind of hereditary or genetic trait. Here are more of the causes in greater detail.

Genes – Most people with Hashimoto’s disease often have relatives or family members with either thyroid disease or another autoimmune disease. As such, there is some evidence of a genetic trait to the disorder.

Hormones – Some studies have revealed that Hashimoto’s affects as much as 10 times more women as men. This would suggest that certain sex hormones could be at play. The hormone factor is further reinforced by the fact that a percentage of women develop thyroid issues after the first year of having a baby.
Excess Iodine – Just like goiter itself, Hashimoto’s can also come from a little too much table salt in your diet. Research shows that too much iodine and other drugs may trigger thyroid disease in a percentage of the population.

Radiation exposure – Ah yes, good old radiation. It’s still hard to believe what the government put our men through in early nuclear bomb tests back when they didn’t know what radiation was (or didn’t care). The death rates were in the millions and unbelievably painful, unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Combined with the Hiroshima nuke and the fallout that followed, increased cases of thyroid diseases have been reported all through the world.

Treating Hashimoto’s Disease

It really weighs heavy on my heart Oliviarites, that I have come to be the bearer of bad news most of the times. Unfortunately this is one of those difficult times. Currently, there is no known cure for Hashimoto’s disease.

The exact timeframe for which the autoimmune disorder and inflammation process continue still remains highly unpredictable.

And while there are several treatment options available that we’ll look, they mainly involve a lengthy observation period, attempts to regulate hormones and restore your metabolism to normal.

And if you do need any medications, chances are that you’ll be on them the rest of your life. Here’s a preview of all the medical treatments available.

i) Synthetic Hormone Therapy

If your Hashimoto’s disease is caused by hormone deficiencies, your doctor will recommend thyroid hormone replacement with agents such as triodothyronine, levothyroxine, and desiccated thyroid extract.

One tablet a day is the general prescription to keep thyroid hormone levels normal, but the treatment will be for the rest of the patient’s life. Your doctor will also have to monitor your hormone levels regularly because excessive amounts of the thyroid hormone could cause accelerate bone loss.

ii) Surgery

As I said earlier, surgery is rarely required for patients with Hashimoto’s disease. The thyroid gland is quite essential and all attempts to keep it working in peak condition should be undertaken.

However, there are cases where extremely large goiters form which seem to be deaf to any medication. If the goiter doesn’t improve or worsens overtime, then it may be necessary to remove the thyroid altogether.

Can Essential Oils Help with Hashimoto Disease

If you’ve already been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, then chances are that you’re probably on artificial thyroid hormone medications. I’m not saying that these pharmaceuticals are bad, far from it!

Artificial thyroid hormones have been saving lives and helping manage Hashimoto’s disease for years. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the side effects – from the incessant nausea to possible accelerated bone loss, they can be truly devastating.

So even with western medication, some of the symptoms of hashimoto will still affect the quality of life.

This is where essential oils come in to lend a helping hand. Not only can they help ease most the symptoms that come with thyroid problems, they also lessen the ill side effects of artificial hormones.

Of course, there isn’t that much research to show a direct correlation between Hashimoto’s and the use of essential oils. But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that suggests these ethereal oils do help to a certain extend with thyroid related health problems.

This includes easing stress and adrenal fatigue, removing toxins from the body, eliminating harmful bacteria and infections in the body, controlling the production of thyroid hormones, reducing the effects of estrogen dominance, and much more.

I’ve rounded up some of the leading oils that show promise in treating thyroid problems.

Best Essential Oils for Hashimoto’s

1. Clary Sage

We all know that stress is the leading cause of hyperactive thyroidism. So if you want to treat Hashimoto’s disease, this is the place to start. A clinical study revealed that Clary Sage essential oil has the ability to reduce a stress hormone known as cortisol in the body by as much as three times.

No matter what meds you’re on, stress will always make hypothyroid symptoms worse and could even lead to adrenal fatigue and other health issues. Similarly, clary sage oil helps regulate the TSH hormone levels which is actually the main goal of prescription levothyroxine.

2. Clove

Chock full of warming properties, clove essential oil is your best bet for fighting off pain and inflammation associated with Hashimoto’s disease. Currently the subject of numerous clinical studies, clove essential oil is already a go-to oil for massages, foot rubs and bath time blends.

It’s also a key ingredient in thieves oil and largely contributes its antioxidant properties for glandular and free radical protection. As a bonus, the antifungal properties help fight off candida which could participate in autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto,

3. Spearmint

Much like its more famous cousin (peppermint) spearmint essential oil is also a carminative and digestive essential oil. This basically means that it has the ability to ease constipation as well as relax the intestines and relieve gas – all symptoms common to hashimoto’s.

At the same time, spearmint oil is also a cephalic which calms the nerves and eases stress while the cooling properties deal with the typical overheating that comes with thyroid problems.

4. Frankincense

Here’s another underrated essential oil that could help work wonders for almost any type of thyroid related problem out there. Used correctly, Frankincense essential oil can offer numerous benefits for Hashimoto patients.

It helps regulate the production of hormones such as estrogen, relieves constipation, eases stomach cramps, soothes muscle pains, and relaxes the brains limbic system. All in all, frankincense enhances the entire immune system to give your thyroid gland a much needed boost.

5. Geranium

Ladies, I don’t care if you have Hashimoto’s or not, this is one essential oil that you will need in your life at one point or the other. Geranium essential oil has a unique ability of balancing out certain hormones which go in short supply during menopause.

It’s these hormones that wreak havoc on the thyroid gland leading to issues such as Hashimoto’s. Geranium not only reduces the inflammation that comes with a hyperactive thyroid, it also gets rid of stress and fatigue. What’s more, it also slows down circulation for controlled metabolism and treatment of high blood pressure.

6. Lavender

This is probably the most versatile oil on the planet known for literally hundreds if not thousands of uses. When it comes to Hasimoto’s disease, there are very many benefits to be reaped from lavender.

We already know about lavender’s super calming effect and how valuable it is in the fight against stress and depression. However, a recent study revealed that lavender can also protect against oxidative stress as well as diabetes. Hashimoto’s patients often display signs of insomnia and sleeplessness. Lavender is one of the most recommended essential oils for dealing with sleeplessness every time.

7. Rosemary

If you suffer from Hashimoto’s disease, chances are that you’ve already started experiencing some hair loss. If that’s the case, you’ll need to add Rosemary essential oil to your collection.

In addition to stimulating hair follicles, Rosemary essential oil also reduces joint aches and cuts down swelling normally associated with underactive thyroid problems. But the merits don’t end there guys (could explain why the oil is so damn expensive). Rosemary essential oil has also been found to boost liver function, decrease cortisol levels and improve memory function.

Best Essential Oil Recipes For Hashimoto

Recipe 1: Hashimoto’s Thyroid Gland Support Blend

Ingredients

3 drops Myrrh
3 drops Frankincense
2 drops Clove
2 drops Lemongrass
10 ml Fractionated coconut oil

Method

As mentioned earlier, one of the primary tell tale signs of Hashimoto’s disease is swelling, inflammation and enlargement of the thyroid glands. That’s why you’ll need this here roller blend to help combat the pain and bring down the swelling.

You’ll notice that I added myrrh essential oil to the mix. That’s because this multipurpose oil is a great antioxidant that reduces swelling and inflammation. To make use of this recipe, combine all the ingredients in a small roller bottle and mix well. Roll the blend gently between your palms to get an even better blend which you’ll apply daily directly over the thyroid at the front of the neck.

Recipe 2: Hashimoto’s Adrenal Fatigue Warm Compress

Ingredients

2 drops Clary Sage
1 drop Geranium
1 drop Rosemary
1 drop Clove
Tablespoon of Macadamia oil

Method

For people with Hashimoto’s disease, adrenal fatigue can be a day to day issue. What with the altered metabolism and hindered thyroid hormone production, finding the energy to go about your daily tasks can be quite a drag.

With this recipe, you’ll be back to your peppy self in no time. Start off by mixing all your ingredients in a glass jar or beaker. Once mixed in, apply the blend to the neck, chest and lower back. Cover the back and or neck with a warm cloth and let the goodness seep in for about 10 minutes.

Recipe 3: Thyroid Foot Rub for Hashimoto’s Disease

Ingredients

6 drops Frankincense
6 drops Lemongrass
6 drops Clove
4 drops Spearmint
2 drops Lavender

Method

You’ve heard it hundreds of times – the feet are the gateway to the entire body – all bones ligaments and organs included. So if you want to get to the thyroid, there may be a way thought the feet.

I chose Frankincense as the star for its numerous benefits to Hashimoto patients. With the other essential oils, the blend will help regulate the production of hormones such as estrogen, relieve constipation, ease stomach cramps, and soothe muscle pains.

To get your rub a dub on, kick off by combining all the ingredients in a glass jar. Once they’re well combined, get a friend or family member to apply and massage the blend under the soles of your feet with focus on the ball of the foot which is a major reflexology point for the thyroid.

Recipe 4: Hypothyroid Aches Massage Blend

Ingredients

12 drops Lavender
10 drops Peppermint
9 drops Rosemary
7 drops Birch
5 drops Eucalyptus
60 ml (2 oz.) fractionated coconut oil

Method

Yeap, you can expect plenty of massage blends for this one. That’s because any thyroid related problems tend to be accompanied by some resinous muscle aches and joint pains.

So if you can find a way to work those joints and muscles while administering some medication at the same time, why not am I right? To make use of this here recipe, combine all the oils in a glass bottle and shake well. Roll the oil between your palms and massage it generously on the body, back, and joints.

Recipe 5: Anxiety Relief Immune Boosting Diffuser Blend

Ingredients

2 drops Lemongrass
2 drops Peppermint
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Orange
2 drops Grapefruit
Diffuser

Method

What better way to wind up our segment than with a neat, soothing night-time recipe that will have you knocked out and drooling in minutes.

Not only with this particular combination help bust stress and anxiety, but it will also boost your immune system as you sleep through the night. And the best part is; no messy mixing! Just drip the oils in your diffuser as indicated and diffuse as normal.

The Final Word

There you have it folks, we wind up yet another educative segment on everything you need to know about Hashimoto’s disease. We learned what exactly the disease is, and why they named it after the Japanese medic Hakaru.

We’ve also seen that while there is no cure for the disease, there’s definitely no shortage of ways to treat and manage it. So take heart my fellow truth seekers, and know that you’re never alone in your journey to recovery.

You’ve got little old me as well as the entire Olive Nation holding your hand in the journey to healthy living. And we’ll be right here if you need us.

Essential Oils For Digestion – Debunking The Dreaded Digestion Myths

by Olivia 6 Comments

Whether it was the smelly kid at school, your best friend or your parents, we all have had our fair share of food myths served to us like a buffet when we were kids.

Being a kid is fun (it was for me anyway), I still fondly remember the fun I had. I was worry-free. I didn’t have to worry about paying rent or bills. God, why did I have to grow up!

But on the downside, as kids, we were gullible. It doesn’t matter if you were a little genius like young Sheldon, there are myths that were told to you and you believed them, for quite a long time I might add. Heck, you probably secretly believe some of them.

Most times the food myths were told to us to con us into eating food we weren’t quite fond of – veggies.

If you finish your plate of spinach/broccoli, you’ll be as strong as Popeye, we were told (yes back then, the Avengers and the justice league were not such a big deal). And if you eat carrots, you’ll see clearly like a cat in the dark.

I remember one time at dinner eating 5 raw carrots with so much excitement only to bump into house walls at night trying out my new ‘night vision’ power.

The following morning I woke up with bumps on my forehead. My parents did not ask me a thing. Guess they heard the racket at night and knew what happened. They probably had a good laugh too.

Now that I’m all grown up and not so gullible and naïve, I know that gum does not remain in the stomach for 7 years as it’s being digested and neither do fruit seeds grow into trees when swallowed.

If this was the case, by now I would have a watermelon ‘stomach garden’. Honestly, the people who came up with these two were mean.

The digestive system is efficient, though not enough to grant you night vision or super strength. But do not mistake this for it being boring it is not. It is exciting and interesting. Here are some facts that will blow your mind.

We produce 1.7 liters of saliva daily
The stomach of an adult can hold 1.5 liters of food
In a year an adult consumes an average of 500 kgs of food
You can still swallow your food even when standing on your head – believe me I tried

Now I’ve successfully managed to paint the digestive system as a mean machine. Kinda like the engine of the Range Rover Velar (powerful and efficient).

However, it’s not without its fair share of challenges especially with the 21st-century diet and lifestyle changes. Luckily for you, essential oils are here to the rescue.

But first, let’s understand the situation in its entirety.

The Digestive System and Digestion

For everything you do, you need energy. The digestive system is uniquely designed and constructed to provide you with the energy needed to survive and to package and get rid of the waste. Being a system, many organs work together to achieve this role.

Now the digestion process is complex and fascinating at the same time. It is the process of converting foods consumed into energy as well as waste products. Digestion is done in steps as the food goes through a long tubular structure starting from the mouth and ending at the anus.

As the food is propelled through the system, it’s altered by hormones, enzymes, and bacteria present. The food takes an average of 40 hours traveling through the system before its waste is excreted.

Come, let’s go on the digestion journey – like Alice in one hell of a hot, humid, acid filled twisted wonderland.

The Mouth

This is the entry point for food. Note that the digestive system usually gets ready for the food even before you put the food in your mouth. Smell and sight are enough to get it riled up.

The salivary glands will fill up your mouth with saliva awaiting the food. So you should stop thinking you are greedy when this happens. It is just the body’s natural reaction to food.

Once the food is in the mouth, you will start chewing. The chewing process will break it down into smaller pieces that are easier prey for salivary amylase (an enzyme contained in saliva).

The teeth grind and cut during this process. The tongue during this process helps in mixing saliva with the food and later pushing it to the back of the mouth for swallowing.

The Esophagus and Pharynx

The pharynx, better known as the throat, is the area between the esophagus and the mouth. While in this space, the bolus (the name given to the ball of food being swallowed) can go down the windpipe which leads into the lungs (wrong path), or down the esophagus and into the stomach 25 cm below.

So why doesn’t the bolus go down the windpipe? Well, the swallowing process triggers a complex process which ends up with the temporary closure of the windpipe. Food is as such forced to move down the esophagus. This is a predominantly a reflex action though you have some bit of control.

The esophagus is simply a tube made of muscles. It contracts rhythmically to push food towards the stomach. Yes, you heard me right. Food does not go into the stomach by gravity. Strong muscles are in play. It’s the reason you can swallow food even when standing on your head.

Once the bolus reaches the roof of the stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter opens to let it in and closes behind it. This sphincter is important in ensuring that food that makes it to the stomach is not regurgitated.

The Small Intestines and the Stomach

In the stomach, enzymes and acid produced by the triple stomach wall continue processing food. The stomach walls also churn the food. For three hours, food in the stomach is mixed and processed into chyme.

The thick fluid is released into the duodenum (the first bit of the small intestines). Here, enzymes from the liver and pancreas further process food as it moves to the small intestine.

Quick fact: the small intestines are not so small. The surface area of the small intestine of an adult measures about 2700 feet. This is close to half a basketball court. Imagine that!

Now the small intestines have three parts – the duodenum, the jejunum (I’m in love with the pronunciation of this word. I can’t have enough of it) and the ileum. The last two segments are responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

From the small intestines, the small intestines move into the colon.

Colon Rectum and the Anus

The main role of these three parts is to solidify waste product by absorption of water and storing the waste until you poop. The colon is divided into four bits;

The sigmoid colon
Descending colon
Transverse colon
Ascending colon

Together they measure about 7 feet and connect to the rectum. The rectum is an 8-inch chamber that does the actual ‘storage’ of the waste product for a while.

The rectum has sensors that send messages to the brain to alert you that you need to poop. Yes, you just do not feel the pressure and decide to poop. A lot of behind the scene messaging has to take place.

The last part of the digestive system is the anus. It measures about 2 inches long. It has two sphincters, the external and internal sphincters.

The lining of the anus is designed to detect the content of the rectum. It alerts you whether it is gas, solid or liquid. I can’t begin to imagine the chaos and embarrassment some of us would have gone through if this was not one of the powers of the digestive system (It is hilarious just thinking about the confusion and wrong guessing of content).

Accessory Organs

There are three organs that lend the digestive system a hand. They are instrumental for the efficient breakdown of food.

The pancreas: this is mostly associated with blood sugar levels. Since it produces insulin, this is a correct association. However, as part of the digestive system, the pancreas produces enzymes that aid in the digestion of carbohydrates proteins and fats.

The Liver: it is in this organ that bile is produced. Bile is important in the breakdown of fats. It is stored in the liver. Toxins present in the food are filtered by the liver before they cause harm.

The Gallbladder: this is the actual part that stores bile. It is found in the liver. When fatty foods arrive in the duodenum, it contracts and consequently releases bile.

As we end this section here is another digestive system fun fact. Laundry detergents contain enzymes similar to those present in the digestive system. These enzymes include amylases, lipases, and proteases. These work to break down carbohydrate, fat and protein stains respectively.

Common Digestive Problems

Is it just me or is there something about digestive problems that make people shy off from their public discussion? Many prefer suffering in silence. But unbeknownst to them, studies show that clinics are treating a lot more digestive disorders today than they used to.

Below is a rundown of some of the common digestive problems. Pay keen attention, I might have your problem covered.

Constipation

This is a digestive problem where the bowel movements are infrequent. In some, poop is usually difficult to pass. It is more of a symptom of other health problems rather than a disease itself.

What is considered normal bowel movements varies. For some, passing stool thrice in a day is normal and for others normal is passing stool thrice in a week.

However, if you have fewer than 3 bowel movements weekly, you are constipated. When it gets to this point, your stool will harden and become increasingly painful to pass. You might have to carry along your favorite magazine, newspaper or novel to keep yourself entertained while you are at it.

Constipation is caused by insufficient fiber in the diet, not drinking enough water, change in routine (such as traveling), and some types of medication. Constipation is also prevalent in pregnancies as the high hormonal levels slow down digestion.

Usually, constipation is not serious. It appears suddenly and disappears in the same way. However, there at times it is chronic and stays for long. At such times, complications may develop. These complications may include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, fecal impaction and rectal prolapse.

Diarrhea

We all know of this condition. It is where you pass watery, lose and soft stool. Some of its symptoms include:

Fever
Bloating
Stomach cramps
Dehydration

Diarrhea does not need tests to be diagnosed. The appearance of the above signs and symptoms is enough to medicate.

It can be caused by viral and bacterial infections, parasites, alcohol abuse, food allergies and reactions to certain types of medication.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

This is a condition in which the stomach acid back up into the food pipe. It is often referred to as acid reflux. When this happens, you will experience a burning sensation in your chest. It often occurs at night or right after meals.

While it is not alarming for one to experience heartburn and an acid reflux once in a while, it should be alarming when it happens frequently, say twice in a week. It could be a symptom of GERD.

The condition is often accompanied by tooth erosion, bad breath, nausea, and heartburn. Some individuals find relief in avoiding beverages and foods that trigger these symptoms.

Gallstones

These are simply hard deposits in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is responsible for the secretion and storage of bile. Gallstones tend to form when one has too much waste of cholesterol in their bile or when the gallbladder is not emptying as it should.

When the gallstones align themselves on the ducts and cutoff the gallbladder from the intestines, a sharp pain is felt in the top right side of your abdomen. You can have medication dissolve the gallstones or proceed with surgery to get rid of them.

Celiac Disease

It is also known as Sprue. It is a reaction, an autoimmune response to the gluten present in rye, barley, and wheat. If you have this condition, eating foods with gluten will trigger an immune response in your ileum.

Over time, the reaction will alter and damage the lining of your small intestines and consequently impair absorption of nutrients. This damage results in fatigue, weight loss, anemia, bloating and diarrhea.

In children, the condition can lead to impaired growth and development in addition to all other symptoms that manifest in adults.

While some individuals may not have any signs and symptoms, the only true treatment of the disease is avoiding foods rich in gluten. Go for gluten alternatives including lentils, quinoa, brown rice, corn flour, and amaranth and soy flour.

Crohn’s Disease

In my head, this sounds like a name you would expect to hear in a Sci-Fi movie. In real life, this is an inflammatory bowel disease.

It results in the inflammation of the digestive tract which leads to abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, malnutrition, and diarrhea. The inflammation as a result of this disease can occur in virtually any part of the digestive system.

While there still isn’t a known cure for the disease, the symptoms can be managed by therapies – a person can function normally.

You should see a doctor when you have blood in your stool, dramatically lose weight and have a fever that lasts for more than two days in addition to the above-mentioned symptoms.

Ulcerative Colitis

This is yet another inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation like Crohn’s Disease and ulcers along the digestive tract. Mostly, it attacks the inner walls of the rectum and the colon. The symptoms tend to develop gradually.

This condition can result in life-threatening complications. While there isn’t a cure for the condition, some treatments can help reduce the symptoms and even cause long-term remission.

The symptoms of this condition include:

Diarrhea with pus or blood
Cramping and abdominal pain
Defecating urgencies (this sounds really funny)
Fatigue
Fever
Weight loss
Rectal pain

Most people with this condition experience mild symptoms. The cause of ulcerative colitis varies in different people. Also, depending on where the inflammation and ulcers appear, the condition is given different names.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This disorder is pretty common. It affects the colon. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Luckily, only a handful of persons with his disease experience severe symptoms. The severe symptoms can be treated with counseling and medication.

Note that IBS does not result in changes of the bowel tissues or increase the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Causes of cancer include severe infection, abnormalities in the nervous system and inflammation in the walls of the intestines.

Symptoms That You Have Digestive Problems

Bad Breath

If you are having bad breath, the kind that does not seem to go away even after brushing your teeth after every meal, you probably should take a deeper look into it.

The problem is not your teeth but your digestive system. Having a fishy smell denotes a kidney problem while a fruity smell denotes diabetes on the fritz.

Body Odor

Impaired digestion leads to an overproduction of smelly chemicals in the digestive system. When these chemicals are reabsorbed into the body they are excreted through the skin as sweat.

Foods rich in proteins are usually difficult to digest. In addition to this, they take way longer than other foods. They are the number one cause of foul body odor.

If you notice a foul smell after eating, then your digestive enzymes may be low. If this is the case, you should strive to avoid fatty foods and red meats which prove harder for the body to digest.

Anemia

If you suspect you are anemic, in addition to seeking its treatment, you should also have your digestive system looked into. Anemia is caused by a deficiency of iron.

Low iron levels are often caused by gastrointestinal blood loss. In addition to this, insufficient acids and digestive enzymes in the stomach which lead to impaired digestion is a cause of iron deficiency.

Brittle Nails

This is an indicator that you do not have sufficient stomach fluids to complete the second stage of digestion. As such, any protein zinc and calcium from the foods you eat will not be absorbed into the body. Eventually, this leads to unhealthy nails and hair.

Acne

Acne and other skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, and eczema start with digestion problems. Yes, conditions that see way unrelated to the digestive system have their beginning and cause from the gut.

If you are suffering from flaky and dry skin, your body may be struggling with the digestion of fat courtesy of low production of lipase.

In addition, if your body is not breaking down food efficiently, you would experience a shortage of vitamins essential to the glowing and smooth skin like E, K, and A.

How To Prevent Digestion Problems

With the digestive system, you just need to be cautious with how you treat it. Treat it well and it will surely pay you back in kind. Below are some tips to keep everything in check.

Eat Meals Frequently

Weight loss regiments recommend that you eat food in smaller portions but frequently. This helps in boosting the body’s metabolism and prevents overeating. This rule also helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

When you overeat, the digestive system becomes overloaded. Remember that the stomach can only handle 1.5 liters of food. But this does not mean you have to fill it up every time. Well, you could but most of it will end up in your drainage system. With the overload, the system is not efficient.

Strive to have about 5 mini meals daily.

More Fiber

Fiber helps in heart health and weight loss. Fiber is important for digestive health. There are two types of fiber; soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber tends to make a gel in the gut that helps to keep you satiated while the insoluble fiber contributes bulk to excrement.

The recommended intake for men is 38 grams for females is about 25 grams. With enough fiber in your system, you shouldn’t have problems with your digestive system.

Drink Lots of Water

It is said that you should have 8 glasses of water daily. However, what people forget is that this is a minimum. You should drink as much water as your body needs. Water helps in preventing constipation and facilitates efficient absorption of nutrients.

As you increase your water intake, you should reduce the sugar intake that will add problems to your digestive system.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have gained popularity in the recent past, and deservedly so. They have lots of benefits. And when used properly they have no side effects.

What Are The Best Essential Oils For Digestion

Below are some essential oils you can use to ease symptoms for your digestion problems.

1. Peppermint

This essential oil has been in use for the longest time now its use can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Rome. In these times, it was considered a magical portion. It is loved for its strong aroma.

Health experts have run tests to prove that it works to relieve stomach aches, irritable bowels, nausea, and cramps. It also strengthens the walls of the intestines and stomachs.

2. Ginger

If you are into Asian cooking, you are familiar with ginger. The root is commonly used in Asian dishes for its taste and aroma.

It is believed to have great results on the digestive system. It is rich in gingerol which is a powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compound.

It naturally helps to remedy vomiting, nausea, and indigestion.

3. Clove

The digestive tract is often attacked by inflammation. Inflammation leads to a host of problems including bloating and pain.

Clove oil is a natural remedy that works to heal inflammation and reduce spasms. Overall it helps in relaxing the digestive tract.

4. Oregano

This is another powerful essential oil believed to have strong benefits for the digestive system. It has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties.

Most people who have used oregano oil believe its benefits far outweigh that of OTC drugs designed to get rid of pathogens in the digestive system.

5. Cardamom

Cardamom is a popular and expensive spice that is used in a lot of dishes. It contains lots of unique components that facilitate the digestion process. It serves as a stimulant for the digestive system which helps in easing the secretion of bile juice and gastric juices.

Essential Oil Recipes for Digestion

Recipe 1: Bloating Roller Blend

What you need:

Fennel – 5 drops
Fractionated coconut oil – 1 tablespoon
Roll-on bottle – 5ml

Method

Honestly, there is nothing that can get you down and out like a bloated stomach. Bloating is simply an abdominal swelling that results from overeating. We have all experienced it once or twice following a party with buffet service. It is also caused by menstruation, food allergies and constipation. It is super uncomfortable. But this trick will work wonders.

Mix the ingredients in a roll-on bottle. Apply the blend on your stomach once or even twice a day as the need arises.

Recipe 2: Roll-On Recipe for Constipation

What you need:

Lemon – 1 drop
Rosemary – 1 drop
Peppermint – 1 drop
Fractionated coconut oil – 1 tablespoon

Method

We have gone over what constipation is and how it is classified so no need to go back to that. What I can say is that it is a nasty condition, not life threatening but nonetheless uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Luckily, essential oils like lemon, peppermint and rosemary make great blends to ease the condition. You should really give this time tested a try.

The essential oils are potent and powerful. As such, the fractionated coconut oil is important it helps in diluting. Once the blend is ready, you can massage it on your back and stomach.

Recipe 3: Anti-Diarrhea Aromatic Oil Blend

What you need:

Fennel – 2 drops
Peppermint – 3 drops
Fractionated coconut oil – 1 tablespoon
Roll-on bottle – 5ml

Method

Serious cases of diarrhea last for more than 2 days. It often leads to dehydration. And the funny thing about diarrhea, it causes one to sweat like crazy (or maybe it is just me?) this blend should relieve the problem at hand.

You should apply the blend on your stomach as needed. It will ease the symptoms over time.

Recipe 4: Rekindle Digestive Fire

What you need:

Ginger – 3 drops
Lemongrass – 3 drops
Lavender – 3 drops
Roman chamomile – 4 drops
Peppermint – 2 drops
Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons

Method

As we age, our bodies tend to slow down. The digestive system is one of those that slow down over time. If you need to give the digestive system a boost you should use this blend. It is designed to stimulate digestion. You can rub it on your belly, or if you like, at the bottom of your feet.

To make this blend, mix the essential oils with the coconut oil preferably in a bottle. Give it a good mix and apply as per above.

Recipe 5: Digestive Support Diffuser Blend

What you need:

Lavender – 3 drops
Lemon – 3 drops
Peppermint – 2 drops
Diffuser

Method

Just so that we are on the same page, a diffuser is a gadget designed to use room temperature to blow essential oils into a nebulizer and vaporize into the air. They are fast and efficient, and you can pick any diffuser of your choice.

Add the oils into the diffuser along with approx. 100ml of water or as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Recipe 6: The Ultimate Digestive Rub

What you need:

Cardamom – 4 drops
Ginger – 3 drops
Lavender – 2 drops
Black-pepper – 5 drops
Peppermint – 5 drops
Jojoba oil – 1 oz. (30ml)
Container – 1 oz.

Method

Most of the useful components in the essential oils used in this blend are small enough to go through your skin and be carried around the body in the bloodstream. As such, rubbing the oil on the abdomen will help in soothing a full stomach, speeding up digestion and easing acid reflux and gas.

Mixing the ingredients in a container is all the work you need to do to complete the blend.

Conclusion

Courtesy to the global marketplace, it is becoming easier and easier to choose natural and pure solutions to our problems. Choosing essential oils to ease health symptoms is a great choice.

When used right, there are no repercussions or side effects to worry about. If you value your digestive system, start by eating a healthy, balanced diet everyday and you won’t have any problems in future.